An apparatus for securely joining ropes for rope suspension or payload tie down. The apparatus includes a two substantially identical channel assemblies configured having a first bend to form a rope groove on one end and a second bend to form a cam channel on the other end, the cam channel having a rivet hole and a pin therethrough to enable a cam to rotate therein, and an attachment mechanism to secure the channel assemblies back-to-back thereto. By opening the cam of either assembly, a rope may be threaded through the rope grove, then again on the opposite assembly. The rope can be pulled from its end away from the assemblies to tighten prior to closing the cam(s) upon the ropes. The rope can further be secured by continuing to pull after the cam has been closed, or by using an optional tightening mechanism and method. A method of tying down cargo or rope suspension using the apparatus of the disclosure for uses such as general-purpose camping, hiking, and other general-purpose tie-down and/or suspension uses of ropes. A method of tightening one or more ropes using the tie-down apparatus disclosed.

An apparatus for securely joining ropes for rope suspension or payload tie down. The apparatus includes a two substantially identical channel assemblies configured having a first bend to form a rope groove on one end and a second bend to form a cam channel on the other end, the cam channel having a rivet hole and a pin therethrough to enable a cam to rotate therein, and an attachment mechanism to secure the channel assemblies back-to-back thereto. By opening the cam of either assembly, a rope may be threaded through the rope grove, then again on the opposite assembly. The rope can be pulled from its end away from the assemblies to tighten prior to closing the cam(s) upon the ropes. The rope can further be secured by continuing to pull after the cam has been closed, or by using an optional tightening mechanism and method. A method of tying down cargo or rope suspension using the apparatus of the disclosure for uses such as general-purpose camping, hiking, and other general-purpose tie-down and/or suspension uses of ropes. A method of tightening one or more ropes using the tie-down apparatus disclosed.

A gripping arrangement (110) is disclosed for gripping an elongate article (111). The gripping arrangement comprises a body (112) defining a pathway (128) along which the article can extend and a gripping member (116) in the body for gripping the article. The gripping member is moveable from a non-gripping position to a gripping position. The gripping arrangement further includes urging means (122) to urge the gripping member towards the gripping position, and locking means (130) moveable from a non-locking position to a locking position. The locking means is configured to lock the article to the gripping member, when the locking means is in the locking position.

A rope grab for a vertical fall protection system is provided. The rope grab includes a housing with an elongated member passage. The elongated member passage is configured to receive an elongated member. A locking cam is pivotally coupled to the housing and selectively engages an elongated member received in the elongated member passage. A cam spring is coupled between the housing and the locking cam to provide a relatively slight biasing force on the locking cam in a direction towards an elongated member received in the elongated member passage. A locking arm, pivotally coupled to the housing, has a first end that is configured to be coupled to a safety harness of a user and a second end that selectively engages the locking cam to lock the locking cam on an elongated member in the elongated member passage during a fall event.